A woman determined to raise awareness about water scarcity tasked herself to run 100 marathons in 100 days.

Mina Guli wanted to show the world she is 100 percent committed to this cause.

"Water is the single biggest thing we need. It is the single biggest thing we rely on for our life, for our economy," Guli said.

Guli came to Arizona to meet with Olympic athlete, Michael Phelps, to discuss what they can do to raise awareness around the crisis.

Guli started her marathon campaign, known as #RunningDry, on Nov. 4, 2018, at the New York City Marathon. The campaign has been supported by Colgate, Reebok, UNESCO World Water Assessment Programme, Global Water Partnership and UN Water.

Phelps is Colgate's Global Water Ambassador, which is why he and Guli met in Phoenix.

Guli ran 62 marathons before breaking her leg during a marathon in January. She was determined to keep the campaign going by asking people to donate their miles.

She has run all across the world during the #RunningDry project, including throughout Europe, the Middle East and the U.S. These runs were her favorite not because of the places she has been, but because of the people she's met or the things that she's seen, she said.

Guli also started an international non-profit organization called Thirst in 2012. The organization focuses on educating and encouraging action around the water crisis.

"We needed to change the minds and hearts and ideas of the next generation of consumers, so we consume smarter," Guli said about why she created Thirst. "We need to encourage companies and businesses to manufacture things in a more water smart way."

Guli explained that she wanted to do this campaign not because she loves running, but to tell the words of the people who are impacted or searching for solutions to the crisis.

"I think I also wanted to show what each one of us is capable of, that you don't have to be anyone to be someone, that any one of us is capable of doing great things and achieving things we never thought were possible," she said. "Whether it is running 100 marathons or whether it is changing the world."

NEWSLETTERS

Get the AZ Memo newsletter delivered to your inbox

We're sorry, but something went wrong

Get the pulse of Arizona -- Local news, in-depth state coverage and what it all means for you

Broken leg didn't end her quest

After Guli broke her leg, she thought the whole campaign was over. She was devastated. But her team, family and friends and even strangers were running for her, donating their miles to her.

"You need to understand this is not a campaign for 38 days more, this is about the next 38 years you are going to spend to advocating for water," Guli said.

A week ago, her team challenged the global community to run 100 marathons in one day. The community ran 6,214 miles in 44 countries and territories around the world.

Seen across social media, Guli said she is humbled and blown away around the support and enthusiasm she sees around the water crisis.

"Even though I can't run, the community is running, and when I get better I want to run with those people who ran for me," Guli said.

She also joked about Phelps thinking she is crazy for being willing to run 100 marathons.

But she's determined to finish the challenge, despite breaking her leg.

"I think I can, I will," Guli said. "I think those six words are incredibly important. If you think you can do something, if you say to yourself that you can do it, you will do it. I think we need to apply that everything in our lives. If we think we can, we will solve the water crisis."

Guli will finish her 100-day marathon challenge in New York City on Feb. 11.